WHY I WILL LIVE AND DIE IN UGANDA

By Robert Bake Tumuhaise

Recently as I penned down Florence Rukundo’s latest song, many people kept asking why I was naming it “Rukundo Pakalast”. I kept telling them I wanted to pass across a message that would make men refocus on their wives’ inside beauty instead of looking outside their marriage for love and satisfaction. Ever asked yourself why polygamy is common among men, and yet many women manage to stick to one man? A man’s mind keeps deceiving him that there is something better elsewhere than what is here. That’s why many men get tempted to explore the ‘outside world’ for love, only to end up being disappointed.

This mindset seems to extend even in the territory of career and work. There are so many Ugandan men who believe they cannot achieve success in Uganda and so, for years, they’ve been struggling to leave the country for kyeyo abroad. I’ve met many who have been denied visas walking as if the whole world has collapsed over their heads. They feel assured they are going to die poor unless they leave the country. A country that, Winston Churchill, one of the most intelligent men in history, named “The Pearl of Africa”! But where did the Bitatures, the Wavas, the Mukwanos make their money? And how many Ugandans have returned from America or the UK without even enough dime for their ticket back?

Funny how people struggle to leave a country that others are struggling to enter. While you dream of going to India to make money, hundreds of Indians are entering Uganda and are prospering! Some men have postponed living and are languishing in self-created limbo, waiting to start enjoying life when their dream of going abroad comes true. What a crippling mindset! Truth be told; a success-minded person will always succeed from anywhere. I have no doubt that I am going to become a millionaire without leaving this country. How proud I am to be Ugandan!

ROBERT BAKE TUMUHAISE
World of Inspiration,
worldofinspirationuganda@gmail.com
worldofinspiration.org
+256-414691595
Making Excellence your Habit!

HOW I SHOOK HANDS WITH THE QUEEN!

By Robert Bake Tumuhaise

At first I thought I was watching a kinigeria (Nigerian movie). Then I thought it was a dream. But upon touching myself, I realized it’s real. It was happening. I was seated next to her. The lady that has always inspired me. I was shaking hands with Doreen Baingana, the multiple award-winning Ugandan writer I had always longed to meet.

If you haven’t been a keen follower of literature on the global scene, you may not know much about this charming mother of one son. A powerful author that has traveled to every corner of the world because of the power in her pen. ‘TROPICAL FISH: Stories out of Entebbe’ is the most popular of her books. It won her an Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Prize for Short Fiction in 2003; & a Commonwealth Prize for Debut Fiction, Africa Region in 2005.

Doreen is not like any lady you meet next door. She has won the Washington Independent Writers Fiction Prize and has been nominated twice for the Caine Prize for African Writing. She is currently writing a novel and a creative nonfiction book on Somaliland as part of the Pilgrimages Project of the Chinua Achebe Center for African Writers, Bard College.

Last week I got a chance to meet Doreen at the Authors’ Forum, a monthly inspirational event that World of Inspiration organizes at the National Theatre, every first Wednesday of the month, 5-8pm. This is when I got the chance to engage her during our ‘Celeb Interview’. Her creativity, simplicity and humility fascinated me. She was simply irresistible; the whole audience across the auditorium sat and listened quietly. Her choice of words made me almost suspect she could be a niece to Shakespeare or Chinua Achebe! No wonder she managed to work as an editor with Voice of America (V.O.A) for ten years; and Story Moja (in Kenya) as the Managing Editor).

During this interview, Doreen challenged each one of us to come up and showcase what we can do. She urged us to be more creative and to write relevant literature that will move the masses. I enjoyed every bit of this interview. Doreen holds a law degree from Makerere University and an MFA from the University of Maryland. She is currently the Chairperson of FEMRITE, an association of female writers in Uganda.

It was not only Doreen that impressed me at the Authors’ Forum. There were other creative, talented and enterprising minds. Notable among those who attended was Prof. Joy Kwesiga, the Vice Chancellor of Kabale University, Monitor’s literary analyst and novelist Dennis D. Muhumuza, award winning painter Roldan Rolands Tibirisya, and Hilda Twogyeirwe the FEMRITE Coordinator. I cannot begin to describe the ‘Famous Friends’ who danced like they either have no bones or their bones are made out of the same materials with rubber band. From the poets Gilbert Senyonga and Slim Emcee, the guitarist Joseph Byamukama, to Walden and Chozen who performed their hit song “Pressure ya Love”, the whole evening was simply fantamsticaglofabulous.

The theme for this episode of the Authors’ Forum was “POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS”. The main speaker was Lawrence Namale, the Kenyan man who introduced Mobile Money in Uganda, a concept that has done wonders for MTN. Those who were present know what an inspirational and electrifying speaker he is. What he said is too good for a third party to narrate; you need to hear it from the horse’s mouth. I suggest you order for a DVD of that day from World of Inspiration (Luwum Street, MM Plaza T33; 0414691595).

I won’t forget the great Celeb Interview with Dr. John B. Niwagaba, a young medical doctor that is taking the nation by storm with his creative ideas. A columnist with ‘The Observer’ newspaper and Chairman of the Annual Vintage Car show, Dr. Niwagaba never runs short of new ideas. At the Authors’ Forum, he told us about his new product, a medical information service. Wherever you are you can use an MTN phone to access a doctor and consult him over any issues. All you need is dial 0902900800. He has called this 24-hour service ‘Hello Doctor’.

My experience at the Authors’ Forum was really fascinating. The next episode is on 7th September, same venue, same time; you can go and have your own experience. The forum reenergized my passion for excellence. I set new goals for myself. And of course I will not forget how I shook hands with the Queen. Doreen Baingana, the Queen of literature.

Stay inspired!

WITHOUT TRUST FORGET SUCCESS

Veronica went to the market and bought five mangoes but on arriving home she found only three. The next morning she rushed back to the seller’s stall, demanding to know why the two were missing. The seller argued: “Oh sorry. While I was packing, I noticed that two of the mangoes were about to get spoilt, so I threw them away for you!”

Can people like this fruit seller ever be trusted? Before you complain of lack of opportunities, first judge whether you are reliable. Do you make empty promises? Do you always fulfill all your pledges? Can people count on your word? Are you credible? You may be currently jobless because people don’t feel safe entrusting you with their money. Your shop may be lacking customers because they are not sure of the accuracy of your weighing scale. A winner makes commitments while a loser makes promises.

If you are put in an office, do not create suspicion on the way you handle your employer’s funds and property. Unfaithfulness destroys one’s platform on which to stand and pursue success. It locks the doors to opportunities. Avoid cheating, lying, masquerading and acting in a ‘slippery’ manner because these kill people’s trust.

You need to live a life that attracts people around you. When you are a trust worthy person, somehow all people around you will always conspire for your success. So avoid stepping on people’s heads as you climb up the ladder. Remember, you may need the same people the day you begin sliding backwards!

Try as much as you can to climb the stairs of success without leaving behind casualties. You don’t have to kill or bewitch someone to get rich. Someone doesn’t have to lose a job before you can get one. Your neighbor doesn’t have to stop selling before your shop can sell. Once you have succeeded without pulling others down, your relationship with them will you will keep you up there.

I share this and more inspirational messages in my book 'TAPPING GOD'S BLESSINGS: Keys to Open Doors of Success in your Life'. You can buy yourself a copy at 15,000/= from our office (Luwum Street, MM Plaza T33); St. Paul's Bookshop (Kampala Road); Makerere University Bookshop; Uganda Bookshop; Christ The King Church Bookshop; Fresh Vine Bookshop (Kampala Road, Opp Fido Dido) or call 0414691595 / 0704666851 / 0712868424 if you want your copy delivered to you.

Don't also forget mark in your diary 7th September 2011, 5-8pm so as not to miss yet another exciting Authors' Forum at the National Theatre. And as I've been communicating, this week we've been running a promotion whereby you can buy one ticket (1,500/=) and get two or pay for two (30,000/=) and get 5! If that's not an offer what is it?

Stay inspired pakalast!